The Hindu : Front Page : Showers help sustain water supply

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Wednesday, Aug 01, 2007
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Showers help sustain water supply

K. Lakshmi

— Photo: M. Vedhan

rain effect: Children enjoy the drizzle near Central Station on Tuesday.

CHENNAI: Intermittent showers through July have not just kept the temperature down in the city, but would also help sustain the comfortable water supply in the coming months.

The storage position of the city reservoirs — prime sources for drinking water supply — has been bolstered by the rainfall in catchment areas.

A Chennai Metrowater official pointed out that with the suspension of water supply from the Veeranam lake for three weeks till Monday, the reservoirs had played a major role in meeting the city’s supply. It was made possible because of the substantial inflow that offset the drawal from the reservoirs.

The four reservoirs received about 500 million cubic feet of surplus water between July 10 and July 31, thanks to rain on these days, the official said.

Water availability is better now compared to last year, with the Chembarambakkam lake also contributing to the water supply, he said. The combined storage level of the reservoirs stood at 3,217 million cubic feet on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, supply from the Veeranam lake has resumed — Chennai has started receiving 180 million litres of water a day. With the Krishna water expected to be released from the Kandaleru reservoir, in Andhra Pradesh, by Friday, the city would have adequate resources for supply in the coming months, the official said.

Meteorological department officials attributed the thunderstorm activity as the reason for the rain.

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